chant

Obsolete, chaunt

[chant, chahnt]

noun

1. a short, simple melody, especially one characterized by single notes to which an indefinite number of syllables are intoned, used in singing psalms, canticles, etc., in church services.

2. a psalm, canticle, or the like, chanted or for chanting.

3. the singing or intoning of all or portions of a liturgical service.

4. any monotonous song.

5. a song; singing.

   the chant of a bird.

6. a monotonous intonation of the voice in speaking.

7. a phrase, slogan, or the like, repeated rhythmically and insistently, as by a crowd.

verb (used with object)

1. to sing to a chant, or in the manner of a chant, especially in a church service.

2. to sing.

3. to celebrate in song.

4. to repeat (a phrase, slogan, etc.) rhythmically and insistently.

verb (used without object)

1. to sing.

2. to utter a chant.

chant

/ tʃɑːnt /

noun

1. a simple song or melody

2. a short simple melody in which several words or syllables are assigned to one note, as in the recitation of psalms

3. a psalm or canticle performed by using such a melody

4. a rhythmic or repetitious slogan, usually spoken or sung, as by sports supporters, etc

5. monotonous or singsong intonation in speech

verb

1. to sing or recite (a psalm, prayer, etc) as a chant

2. to intone (a slogan) rhythmically or repetitiously

3. to speak or say monotonously as if intoning a chant

Other Word Forms

• chantable adjective
• chantingly adverb
• half-chanted adjective
• unchanted adjective
• chanting noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of chant¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; (verb) Middle English chanten, from Middle French chanter, from Latin cantāre, frequentative of canere “to sing”; (noun) from French chant, from Latin cantus; canto

Word History and Origins

Origin of chant¹

C14: from Old French chanter to sing, from Latin cantāre, frequentative of canere to sing

Example Sentences

"Killers, killers," the group chants at the officers, one of whom is armed with a rifle, another carries a pistol.

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A group of children chanted "Stop Rosebank, the planet is for everyone" - in reference to the UK's largest undeveloped oil field - as they moved through the city centre.

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Then the students directed their same nasty chant at Arizona after the public-address announcer recognized the Wildcats.

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Five minutes before the end of the match, the chanting suddenly stops.

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At the Yongsan school gate, junior high school students, who will take the crucial exam in the coming years, cheered the test-takers, holding encouraging signs and chanting slogans, including: "Get 100 score on Suneung".

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Related Words

• hymn 
• mantra 
• melody 
• shout 
• singing www.thesaurus.com
• tune